POLLUTED CLOUD MORE AFTER DEEPAVALI

Deepavali celebration is coupled with bursting of crackers. The current year celebration of Deepavali has polluted the atmosphere to significant extent, especially in the northern parts of the country. Several cities of capital importance and spiritual sentiments like Agra, Ahmedabad, Patna and Delhi were chocked by particulate matter pollution. Fire-works and stagnant air led to a precipitous dip in air quality in a third of the 29 cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The density of the fine particulate matter in the atmospheric air rose to the injurious level. The prevailing level of fine particulate matter would harm respiratory health in normal people and severely affect those with illness. When Air Quality Index (AQI) of 100 is the limit for good air quality, AQI readings for Agra was 384, Ahmedabad 385 and Faridabad and Delhi the worst at 428 and 445 after the celebration of Deepavali.

The System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research, a research unit run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune says, “ Deepavali and dipping temperature raised concentrations of PM25 (particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and smaller) and PM 10 unlike in 2015 when winds swept pollutants away. The Government data showed that levels of harmful pollutants in the air peaked at 14 to 16 times the amounts considered safe for human.

The mythology behind the celebration of Deepavali does not suit to the reasoning of any human. When the rationale of celebration is questioned, it is said that the celebration is for mere jubilation. How can such jubilation spoil the atmosphere which is breathed by all humans? Can such a celebration be allowed to pollute the atmosphere every year with the practice of bursting crackers? Civilized celebration of any festival must ensure hygienic and environ friendly practices. Whether such practices are there in Deepavali?